The Arizona sentinel., 1887-07-23
THRILLING ADVENTURE.
The Story of My Strange De-
 HVerance.

HVerance.
 There was touch of comedy in the first and decided tragedy in the lat ter scenes of a drama in real life, in which played, involuntarily, lead- ing part, which has always been inter- esting in its telling, and may be equally so when written and read.
 It was about month after the close of our civil war when 1 was stationed at town on the Mississippi, in Louisi- ana, busily engaged, in connection with my duties as Provost Marshal of the division and district in paroling the many ex-Confederates who were constantly coming in-most of them sick and worn, all hungry and dirty.
 O.d Colonel C., good "rebel'' and fine gentleman, considered himself under obligations to me for sending to his home in an ambulance, his young, brave, gray-coated and very sick soldier son, and he continually invited me to accept of his hearty old-fash- toned Southern hospitality at the home plantation about eight miles from our post He had three young daughters, good ''rebels'' all, but pretty, bright, sensible ladies, whose political opinions never tainted their courtesy. I was glad to seek such pleasant company, and often did so.
 I Ireceived notice one day from the Colonel, that the next Sunday would be Miss Georgia's birthday-that my presence would add to the joyousness of the occasion, and that there would be ample home products for egg-nogg, which latter intimation 1 well under stood to mean that I would be greatly thanked if brought the spirituous in- gredients for that seductive concoc- ton.
 Early on the day mentioned I mounted with two canteens, one of whisky and one of Jamaica rum, fast ened to my saddle-bow, and with no weapons. Necessity required that should be in uniform passing through our troops and lines, and as the day was very, very warm I wore only a flannel undershirt beneath my closely buttoned, double breasted coat, and strapped behind me a clean white gar ment and two collars, polished in the best style of the laundry art knew would have to throw off my tight fitting harness" on my arrival to put on the light gray jacket the Colonel always insisted suited me better than the blue and brass, and I wanted to look 'nice"
 The road was long, hot and terribly dusty. About five hundred yards from my place of destination I stopped, picketed my horse inside the fence, retired to thick grove of light under brush, well knew, and through which ran little stream of clear water. I disrobed and bathed, then, fresh, cool and clean, I proceeded to prepare for inspection and review. I was strug- gling with the over-starched "biled shirt" head and arms hidden, when I heard the cracking of twigs. As I thrust my head, with hair all tumbled, through the bosom opening of the garment I looked directly into the | muzzles of three revolverS and one | shotgun, all held within five feet of, and on line with, my head in a man. ner not calculated to increase a mans | appetite for the contents.
 Behind each weapon was a villain ous outlaw, specimens of that class who were rebels and murderers with | Union men and murderers and Yan- kees with the Confederate men, who met with no mercy or sympathy from the true soldier of either side. Worse still, l recognized from descriptions often given me, that one of the party was Mat Kingsley, whose house, near the post, 1 had been forced to take as a small box hospital, and who, I had heard, vowed vengeance upon me for the act.
 There was nothing to do but "throw up my hands," and I did it. There was no use in arguing or pleading with such a gang, so I put a bold front on the matter and tried to compromise.
 1 had a couple of hundred dollars in greenbacks in my pocket, and these, with my horse, offered if they would free me. They laughed the proposi- tiOn to scorn. They had me and all these belonging to me. and intended to part with nothing. They had not ex- pected such luck as finding me, being on their way to some other cowardlv, fhipViDO eXDedition and Sacur-iD or mo | was prize unexpected.
 Quickly as possible I was stripped of every piece of clothing and made to replace it with the ragged, vermin-in- fested rags of my captors. I was warned that if made the least outcry my brains would spatter the brush i'm mediately, and l knew the threat was in earnest